1-3
DAYS TO PICKUP, PORTLAND METRO
$600-$1,700
OPEN TRANSPORT, BY DESTINATION
I-95 · I-295
PRIMARY CARRIER CORRIDORS
Key Takeaways
Typical cost: Maine to Florida runs $900-$1,450 on an open carrier, Maine to New York $600-$850, the Midwest $800-$1,150, and cross-country to California $1,350-$1,700. Enclosed transport adds 40 to 60 percent.
Transit time: New York takes 1-2 days, the Carolinas 3-5 days, Florida 4-6 days, Texas 5-7 days, and the West Coast 8-11 days once the vehicle is picked up.
Seasonality: Snowbird demand runs heaviest October through December on southbound lanes and reverses in April and May. Book 2-3 weeks ahead in those windows.
Savings tip: Flexible dates and meeting the carrier near an I-95 or I-295 interchange rather than on a rural road can cut $75-$200 off your price.
Process: You get a dedicated coordinator and a vetted, insured carrier. Nothing is due until a driver is assigned, and your vehicle is tracked by GPS throughout.
Popular Car Shipping Routes from Maine
Maine sits at the northern end of I-95, so most carriers working the state are finishing or starting a long Northeast haul rather than passing through. That keeps pickup windows in the Portland metro short and predictable, while northern and Downeast origins add 1-2 days because fewer trucks cover those lanes. These are the routes we book most often from Maine.
- Maine to New York: 300-350 miles, 1-2 days
- Maine to the Carolinas: 900-1,000 miles, 3-5 days
- Maine to Florida: 1,400-1,500 miles, 4-6 days
- Maine to Texas: 1,950-2,100 miles, 5-7 days
- Maine to California: 3,100 miles, 8-11 days
Shipping a Car Out of Portland and Bangor
Portland is the easiest pickup in the state. It sits where I-95 and I-295 meet, carriers stage from lots along the Maine Mall corridor and off the turnpike exits, and most residential streets in Greater Portland take a full-size hauler without trouble.
Bangor works much the same way for the central and northern half of the state, though it sees fewer trucks per week, so a day or two of buffer helps. If you are shipping in January or February, build in the same buffer statewide, since a single winter storm can hold carriers off the road across the whole Northeast.
Northern and Downeast Maine
Aroostook County, the Downeast coast, and the western mountains are served by carriers running I-95 and US-1, and pickups there typically take 1-2 days longer than in the Portland metro because fewer trucks cover those lanes. Camp roads and long dirt driveways often mean meeting the carrier at a nearby lot or wide shoulder instead. The most common snowbird runs out of the region are Bangor to Fort Myers and Portland to Sarasota, both busiest from October through December.
Maine Car Shipping FAQs
Most standard sedans and SUVs run $900-$1,450 on an open carrier from the Portland metro to Florida. Enclosed transport adds 40 to 60 percent. During the October through December snowbird surge, southbound prices sit toward the top of that range, so booking 2-3 weeks ahead helps you lock a better rate.
Cross-country runs of about 3,100 miles typically price at $1,350-$1,700 for open transport. The cost per mile is lower than on short Northeast lanes because the carrier keeps the vehicle for the full run. Enclosed service adds 40 to 60 percent to the open price.
Pickup in the Portland metro usually happens within 1-3 days of booking, and northern or Downeast origins add 1-2 days. Once the car is loaded, count on 1-2 days to New York, 3-5 days to the Carolinas, 4-6 days to Florida, 5-7 days to Texas, and 8-11 days to the West Coast.
Maine sits at the end of the I-95 corridor rather than in the middle of it, so a carrier coming north has to drive back out again to keep earning. That empty return leg gets priced in. Lanes out of Portland stay competitive because volume is steady, while northern pickups carry more of the premium.
Late winter through mid-spring is the softest market, once the southbound snowbird rush has passed and before the summer moving season starts. The most expensive windows are October through December heading south and April through May heading back north. Flexible pickup dates can save you $75-$200 in any season.
Often yes, but not always. A full-size hauler needs room to turn and overhead clearance, which many camp roads, dirt driveways, and tree-lined lanes do not offer. When that is the case your coordinator arranges a meeting point at a nearby lot, park and ride, or wide shoulder, usually within a short drive.
Yes. Carriers run Maine lanes all winter and the I-95 corridor stays active year-round. January and February storms can add a day or two to pickup or transit, so build a small buffer into your plans if your dates are tight.
Open transport is the right choice for most vehicles and prices at $600-$1,700 from Maine depending on destination. Enclosed adds 40 to 60 percent and makes sense for classics, exotics, and low-clearance cars. Some owners also choose it in winter to keep road salt and sand off the vehicle.
Yes. Inoperable vehicles ship on carriers equipped with a winch, and the surcharge is typically $100-$200 on top of the open rate. The vehicle still needs to roll, brake, and steer. Tell your coordinator up front so the right equipment is assigned.
